A 61-year-old man in Paphos has misplaced more than €77,600 after falling sufferer to 2 linked cryptocurrency scams, police stated on Saturday.
In response to a criticism filed with Paphos CID, the man’s ordeal started in mid-February when he got here throughout a social media commercial selling cryptocurrency investments.
He contacted an unknown English-speaking lady by a telephone software and, following her directions, transformed €6,200 from his checking account into cryptocurrency and transferred it to an unknown digital pockets for funding.
The man was given a hyperlink by which he might monitor what seemed to be his funding, which subsequently confirmed vital earnings.
When he tried to withdraw his cash, nonetheless, he was requested to pay an extra €3,222. At that time he suspected he had been scammed and minimize off contact with the lady.
A month later, he was contacted by a telephone software by two Greek-speaking people who claimed they specialised in recovering cash misplaced by on-line scams.
They allegedly advised him they may get better his misplaced funds in addition to assist him money in supposed earnings from earlier cryptocurrency investments.
The 61-year-old was persuaded and, between March 20 and July 27, made a sequence of financial institution transfers to abroad accounts offered by the suspects.
The cash was requested below varied pretexts, together with charges, costs and taxes supposedly required to finish the restoration course of and launch his earnings.
He by no means acquired any cash and finally realised he had been scammed for a second time.
In response to his criticism, the entire quantity taken exceeded €77,600.
The Paphos CID monetary crime investigation workplace is investigating the case.
Police urged the general public to be significantly cautious about on-line funding presents and unsolicited approaches from unknown people, and to not present third events with entry to digital units, on-line accounts or banking data.
Individuals contemplating on-line investments ought to deal solely with recognised corporations and authorised monetary funding advisers, police added.
